Brave Monfils Falls to Draper at Roland-Garros
Gaël Monfils gave everything against Jack Draper, but it was physically that the French player eventually gave way in four sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5).
After winning a grueling five-set match against Hugo Dellien on Tuesday, Monfils was again featured in the night session, this time for what promised to be a much tougher match against world No. 5 Jack Draper.
The Indian Wells champion, who was also a finalist in Madrid in early May, got off to the best start, breaking serve after three games. Leading the match 6-3 after 37 minutes of play, nothing seemed to truly worry the Briton.
But Monfils transformed in the second set. Much sharper and impressive on certain exchanges, the French player, who will celebrate his 39th birthday in three months, raised his level to take the set 6-4. The Philippe-Chatrier crowd was electrified, but the third set, slightly less intense than the previous one, went Draper's way.
In the first game of the fourth set, which lasted 13 minutes, Monfils played for survival, saving four break points. Against all odds, it was Draper who then faltered, allowing the world No. 42 to regain hope and even serve for the set at 5-4.
It was from this moment that the French player, who had already dug deep into his reserves, physically broke down.
Draper took advantage by winning three consecutive games, concluding the match after 3 hours and 11 minutes of play. Qualified for the first time in his career for the third round of Roland-Garros, he will face Joao Fonseca.
